Basic Electricity Terms
Specific to the electric industry:
| Alternating current (AC) | Electric current that reverses directions at regular intervals. |
| Amps | Measurement of current flow through a conductor. |
| Atom | The smallest unit of matter. Everything in the world is made of different combinations of atoms. |
| Battery | A single or group of connected electric cells that produces a direct electric current (DC). |
| Blackout | Total loss of electric power from the power distributor. |
| Brownout | A temporary reduction of voltage supplied by the electric power distributor. |
| Capacitance | The ability of a component to store an electrical charge. |
| Charge | Electricity produced by a surplus or a shortage of electrons in an object. |
| Circuit | The path followed by a flow of electric current. |
| Conductor | A substance or material that allows electrons, or electrical current, to flow through it. |
| Current | The movement or flow of electricity through a conductor. |
| Direct Current (DC) | Electric current flowing in only one direction |
| Distribution Lines | Overhead or underground power lines that carry electricity through cities and neighborhoods to your home or business. |
| Electricity | The flow of electrons. |
| Electron | A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. The flow of electrons produces electricity. |
| Energy | The ability to do work. Energy = Power x Time |
| Energy Management System | A system designed to ensure safety, security, and reliability to an electrical network. |
| Fission | The splitting apart of an atom’s nucleus, releasing heat energy. |
| Fuse | An electrical safety device consisting of a wire or strip of fusible metal that melts and interrupts the circuit when the current exceeds a preset amperage. |
| Generator | A machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. |
| Geothermal Energy | Heat energy that is stored below the earth’s surface. |
| Ground | An electrical connection to the earth. |
| Grid | A power system’s layout of its substations and power lines. |
| Hydroelectricity | Electricity generated by flowing water making a turbine spin. |
| Insulator | Any material that will not allow electricity to easily flow through. |
| Kilowatt (kW) | A unit for measuring electrical energy. (demand) |
| Kilowatt Hour (kWh) | One kilowatt of electrical energy produced or used in one hour. (energy) |
| Lightning | A flash of light caused by an atmospheric electrical discharge between two clouds, or between a cloud and the earth. |
| Lightning Arrestor | A device used to protect an electrical component from over-voltage. |
| Load | An electrical device or devices that use(s) electric power. |
| Magnet | An object surrounded by a magnetic field that has the ability to attract iron or steel. |
| Magnetic Field | An identified force that exists around a magnet or electrical field. |
| Megawatt | One million watts. |
| Meter | An instrument that records the amount of something passing through it, such as electricity. |
| Motor | A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. |
| Neutron | A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a neutral electrical charge. |
| Nuclear Power | Energy produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor. |
| Nucleus | The center of an atom that contains both protons and neutrons. |
| Ohms | The unit of measurement of the electrical resistance of a material. |
| Power | Energy used to do work measured in watts. |
| Power Factor | The inefficient use of electrical power; the ratio of watts to volt-amperes. |
| Proton | A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a positive charge. |
| Radio | An electrical device that is capable of sending or receiving messages by means of electromagnetic waves through the air. |
| Resistance | The resistance to flow of electricity through a material. |
| SCADA Systems | Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. A Computer system used to remotely monitor and control substation equipment. |
| Socket | An opening into which something fits, such as a light socket. |
| Solar Energy | Energy produced by the sun’s light or heat. |
| Spike | A short duration of increased voltage lasting only one-half of a cycle. |
| Static Electricity | An electrical charge built up due to friction between two dissimilar materials. |
| Substation | An electrical facility where transformers lower high transmission voltages to be distributed to customers. |
| Surge | A short duration of increased voltage. |
| Switch | An electrical component used for connecting, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit. |
| Thermal | Of, using, producing, or caused by heat. |
| Thermography | A technique used for detecting and measuring the heat emitted by various objects, such as an electrical distribution panel. This technique can be recorded photographically. |
| Transformer | An electrical device that will raise or lower electricity’s voltage and current. |
| Turbine-generator | A large fan(s) that is coupled to a generator field. This turbine (fan) is put into motion by the force of water, steam, or hot exhaust gases that rotate the turbine. |
| Volt | The unit of measurement of force used to produce an electric current. |
| Watt | A unit for measuring electric power. |
| Wind turbine | A machine that uses energy from the wind and transfers the motion to an electric generator. |